Page 15 of The Flyboy's Girl
Chapter Eight
One thing you learn quickly about the military is that they stand on ceremony. Protocols must be followed and standards achieved at every one.
The installation of service members is always a special ceremony, but this particular one happened to fall on the 4thof July.
The celebration would begin on base and carry on into the evening as the fireworks displays lit the night sky. Millie and I had plans to watch from the beach, and with any luck, we would run into Don and Paul. As I checked my hair one last time, I heard my mother call.
“Ruby dear, time to go.”
Making my way to the entrance, I find my mother slipping on a pair of white gloves. Ever the Admiral’s wife, my mother was dressed impeccably in a navy blue dress and matching hat.
Smiling as I turned the corner she said, “Ruby dear, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you, so do you. Dad is going to be too distracted to give his speech,” I tease as we walked to the door.
My mother laughs as she places her purse on her arm. “His distraction is going to be his beautiful daughter and trying to keep the servicemen away from you.”
“Thank you, but I’m pretty sure that rule number one when meeting with those new to the base is, ‘no approaching my daughter’.”
Nearing the waiting Jeep, Mom laughs again, “I’m certain it is. Good morning Ensign Jones,” she greets as he opens the door for us.
“Good morning ma’am, Miss Thorpe,” he says nodding at me as well.
“Good morning,” I reply before climbing into the backseat followed by my mother.
We ride in silence to one of the aircraft hangers on base that has been transformed for the ceremony. When we arrive, Ensign Jones assist both mother and I from the vehicle, and we make our way inside. Greeted by another of my father’s staff members, we are shown to our front row seats located directly in front of the podium. When the call to attention sounds, I sit a little straighter in my chair as I hear the sound of marching feet enter form behind us. Each of the new service men take their position on the stage remaining still and at attention until being otherwise ordered. Once the Color Guard has taken its place, my father and those in command under him enter and take their places beside him as he steps to the podium.
“Good morning, welcome and thank you for joining us today. As you can see behind me, we have a very special class of service men we will be installing today. And it is my honor to welcome and recognize each one of them personally.” Turning to his second in command, my father says, “Now it is my pleasure to introduce Captain Steven Bishop who will read the names of those we are honoring today. Gentlemen as your name is called, please step forward to receive your honor.”
Stepping forward, Captain Bishop salutes my father before exchanging a handshake and moving behind the podium.
“Good morning,” Captain Bishop greets the audience. “We will begin with the installation of the Seaman Apprentice.”
As Captain Bishop begins to read the names, each recruit steps forward for my father to add his newest honor to the board on his chest, steps back and salutes my father. Each one looks as fetching as the next in their white dress uniform.
When the name of the last Seaman Apprentice is read, I begin to focus more intently on those being honored before me.
“Donald Edwin White,” Captain Bishop says as the final Seaman Apprentice follows protocol by stepping forward to receive his honor, steps back and salutes.
However, it’s the reading of the first Airman receiving Apprentice status that causes me to pale. “Paul David Babcock.”
As my father steps to the next Airman, crystal blue eyes find mine, and wink. A mix of emotions flood through me, least of all joy in seeing him again so soon. As my father moves down the line of Airmen, my focus remains on only one as I take in how handsome he truly is.
Light brown hair, crystal blue eyes that seem to look into my soul as we danced just a few days ago. Broad shoulders, tan skin, no doubt gained from working long hours on his parents’ farm, all coupled with a smile that would melt any woman’s resolve, including this Admiral’s daughter.
It’s not until my father moves back to the podium that I steer my focus away from Paul.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he begins, “please join me, the entire staff and those currently serving in the United States Navy here at Point Mugu in welcoming our newest class of both Seaman and Airman Apprentices.”
As the audience and officers begin to applaud, the newly promoted apprentices step forward, beaming with pride in their accomplishment. When the applauding begins to die down, my father turns back to the podium to address the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today for this very special installation. The administration has arranged a lunch reception and ask that you all join us as we get to know our new servicemen.”
Turning to salute the newest residents of Point Mugu, my father dismisses them to begin the celebration.
“That was a beautiful ceremony,” my mother says as she places her handbag over her arm.
“Yes it was,” I agree as my eyes flit in Paul’s direction only to find his watching me as he talks with one of the other airmen.
